Team USA ready for do-or-die Saturday

Durant and company to take on Czechs in crucial tilt

July 29, 2021 John Torenli, Sports Editor

Kevin Durant and his U.S. teammates will advance to the medal round of the Tokyo Olympics with a victory over the Czech Republic on Saturday. AP Photo by Charlie Neibergall

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Brooklyn Nets superstar Kevin Durant had a feeling Team USA would rebound from Sunday’s humbling loss to France in their Olympic opener.

But Wednesday’s preliminary-round rout of Iran only got half the job done for a player seeking his record-tying third gold medal and a national team that is shooting for its fourth consecutive visit to the top of the podium.

“We were a bit too unselfish and that bit us before,” Durant ceded after Team USA reasserted itself as the squad to beat during these ongoing Tokyo Olympics with a 120-66 demolition of the Iranians at Saitama Super Arena.

“But tonight I think guys came out there and were super aggressive to look for their shot but also keep everybody involved, and we were able to make some shots,” he added. “Damian (Lilllard) came out, got it scorching for us, so we’re gonna need that going forward.”

Lillard finished with 21 points, knocking down seven 3-pointers, as the U.S. dominated Iran after having its 25-game Olympic winning streak snapped by the French last weekend.

Damian Lillard’s 3-point shooting spree Wednesday felled Iran and lifted Kevin Durant and Team USA to the brink of the medal round. AP Photo by Charlie Neibergall

Durant only had 10 points for the second straight game, but sat out the entire fourth quarter to rest up for Saturday, when Team USA will take on the Czech Republic with a spot in the medal round on the line.

Though the Americans may still earn a medal-round invite based on point differential if they lose to the Czechs, their path to gold will be much easier if they enter the knockout phase of the tournament with a victory.

Or risk being knocked out themselves.

“The longer a group is together the better they’re going to execute. The more familiarity they have, the better,” noted U.S. head coach Gregg Popovich, who took some heat for his rotations and style after Sunday’s 83-76 defeat.

“So being able to have them play with each other these last couple of days of practice has been really important and hopefully that’ll continue,” he added. “We have room to improve, obviously, in that regard and I think it will show a little bit more each time we get out on the court.”

It had better or this will mark the first time Team USA fails to win it all since 2004 in Athens.

Durant, who paced Team USA in scoring in each of the previous two Olympics, is only five points away from matching Brooklyn-born Carmelo Anthony for the most in Olympic men’s basketball history with 336.

He’s also trying to match Anthony with a third gold medal, a goal that came back into focus after Wednesday’s triumph.

“Especially after a tough loss last game, to compete tonight, today we came out with more freedom as individuals and took the shots that we normally like to take, and they went in tonight, and we guarded up, so it was a good step,” Durant said.

Devon Booker added 16 points for the Americans, who are scheduled to tip off against the Czechs at 8 a.m. EDT on Saturday morning.

Both teams have identical 1-1 records, leaving them one game behind Group A leader France (2-0).

“We’re all excited to be here,” Durant said. “I mean this is the Olympics, this is the national team,”

This is also likely Durant’s last chance to grab that third gold medal before he gets back to the business of helping the Nets win their first-ever NBA crown next season.

Steve Nash won’t have veteran assistant coach Mike D’Antonio by his side in Brooklyn next season. AP Photo by Kathy Willens

NOTHING BUT NET: The Nets found out Wednesday that assistant coach Mike D’Antoni is vacating his spot beside head coach Steve Nash after working one season in Brooklyn. D’Antoni, who coached Nash during his MVP years in Phoenix in 2005 and 2006, helped the Nets post the highest offensive efficiency rating in NBA history this past year. But Brooklyn fell well short of its ultimate goal. “I will be forever grateful for his guidance and will carry on a lifetime of lessons from the many years we’ve spent together,” Nash said. “Our players and staff all benefited from this time in Brooklyn and we wish Mike, Laurel and their family the very best in what lies ahead.” Though the 70-year-old two-time NBA Coach of the Year hasn’t intimated whether he will continue coaching, or in what capacity, he is the second Nets coach to leave this offseason. Just after Brooklyn was eliminated by eventual NBA champion Milwaukee last month, Ime Udoka left Nash’s staff to become head coach of the Boston Celtics. He was replaced by David Vanderpool. The Nets have not yet named a replacement for D’Antoni.